Over 200 people attended in the Economic Closing of the Year, an event closing the calendar of events organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice in 2023. The event, combined with a Christmas meeting of the Chamber’s Member Companies, took place on December 20 at the conference center of the Silesian Stadium.
Are you ready for change? This was not only the slogan of this year’s edition of the European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, but of the entire year that is ending. The only constant ids change. The passing 12 months have been quite a challenge for entrepreneurs. After all, we live in a period of permanent change – from the aggressive and unforeseen; to those emerging systemically, such as artificial intelligence and technological developments. The meeting summarized the past year from various perspectives, and it was also a moment to consider whether the opportunities brought by the change had been seized, and to formulate expectations for the next year’s test for entrepreneurs.
According to Tomasz Zjawiony, President of the CCI, it was an important year.
– We have picked up the gauntlet and can consider 2023 a rewarding year. In an era of permanent change, we are prepared for the challenges ahead, and this is despite the economic rollercoaster that affects our businesses. I’m glad that cooperation with local government, business and science has brought us to this moment, that we can meet again, share comments and insights, on what helped and mobilized us in the past year – stressed the organizer of the event, welcoming guests gathered at the Silesian Stadium.
Representatives of the Partners of the Economic Closing of the Year presented a balance sheet of the last 12 months from the point of view of the institutions they represent.
Henryk Borczyk, Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia, spoke about the mechanisms created by the GZM to support the business, social and scientific environment. Among other things, the Metropolis in 2023 was a partner of the largest events aimed at business, co-organizer of economic missions, started new ecological programs, and bet on the organization of public transport, using sustainable solutions.
–We have also created a platform for sharing standardized data for the private sector, and we have expanded the Science Support Fund into new areas: scientific research, competence expansion. As part of the implementation of the idea: “Study Work, Live in the Metropolis,” we want to show young people the offer of metropolitan universities. In the GZM budget for 2024, the amount of support under this fund was doubled. In our opinion, learning is the basis for good business – noted Henryk Borczyk, Vice Chairman of the GZM.
Aleksandra Monsiol-Szatkowska, Director of the Department of Economy and International Cooperation at the Marshal’s Office, summarized what was happening in the Silesian Voivodeship in the economic field during the local government’s term coming to an end, about supporting companies in the internationalization process, the investment attractiveness of our region and activities in international cooperation.
–Under the Global Silesia project, we organized 23 trade fair events abroad, 15 trade missions, 21 domestic events, 10 inbound missions from partner regions. 389 companies from the SME sector received real support under this project. The inSilesia Silesian Investor and Exporter Service Center, operating within the department, is ranked third among the best service centers in the country as of 2019. In recent years, the Silesian Voivodeship has signed 10 new international agreements – mentioned Aleksandra Monsiol-Szatkowska. The director of the Department of Economy and International Cooperation announced the continuation of the internationalization process under the new Inter Global project in partnership with the Upper Silesia Fund.
Mayor Marcin Krupa spoke about the city’s changing image, new investments and the potential of Katowice as the European City of Science 2024.
– We want the local government to create conditions for business to operate. 1/3 of the municipal budget is investment, we try to use EU funds. Science is the potential of our region, we have a full range of universities with different specializations. It is important that universities transfer their knowledge to industry and business. We also invest in culture, because it supports economic development, creates new quality and builds a positive image of the city – stressed the Mayor of Katowice.
Maciej Malik, Chairman of the Board of the Future Industry Platform Foundation, thanked the Chamber for its intensive, fruitful cooperation.
–Without cooperation with business organizations, we cannot think responsibly about Industry 4.0 and 5.0 or digital transformation, modern technologies. As FPPP, we expertly support the development of the competencies of the future, through projects such asSzkoła Lider and Fabryka Przyszłości – he added.
About solutions to protect entrepreneurs and their companies from payment bottlenecks, what 2023 looked like in terms of consumer and business registries. Where can you find a bad or good payer in the region? What prospects await us in terms of credit arrears and the credit market in general? These issues were illuminated by Sławomir Grzelczak, President of the Board of BIG InfoMonitor S.A. and Vice President of the Information Bureau.
– 6% of companies do not pay banks and contractors. That’s the national average, but only 5% in the Silesian Voivodeship. The most reliable regions are Raciborski, Lubliniec and Klobucki regions. On the other extreme are Chorzow, Sosnowiec and Mysłowice – Sławomir Grzelczak listed.
At the end of the first part of the meeting, Tomasz Zjawiony summarized the Chamber’s year of work. More than 120 organized events, 110 new Member Companies, new national delegations, foreign representative offices and expert teams operating at the CCI – this shows the scale of activity of the institution of economic self-government in Katowice.
–We focus on synergy of activities and cooperation. Thank you for your trust, for being with the Chamber, supporting us, together we can do more. There are still a lot of good ideas to put together – Tomasz Zjawiony concluded.
One example of good use of budget resources and, above all, the interaction of local and business local government is the Katowicka Akademia Rozwoju Przedsiębiorcy, project, implemented by the City of Katowice and the CCI. Fifty entrepreneurs took part in the third edition of free, on-site training courses for companies in Katowice. The most active trainees received prizes in kind, which were presented during the Economic Closing of the Year.
The meeting also welcomed Member Companies that have recently joined the Chamber. There was also a musical touch, a charity fair organized by the Fundacja Śląskie Anioły, Christmas and New Year wishes and networking over refreshments until late in the evening.
That’s not all that was prepared for the participants of this unique summary of the year. The special guest of the event was Jacek Walkiewicz. Psychologist and speaker, in stand-up, bravura style, presented a motivational lecture “Full POWER in times of change”.
We welcome new CCI Member Companies:
Śląski Bank Spółdzielczy „SILESIA” w Katowicach
GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o.
DOMINOPACK FOLIA A. Wieczorek Sp. K.
TRIOCHEM Sp. z o.o.
Kożuch Trawka Widera Kancelaria Prawna s.c.
MAVIKA Sp. z o.o.
FOLLOWUS.PL Sp. z o.o.
SIM Zagłębie Sp. z o.o.
Fundacja KOBIETY UKRAINY ŚLĄSK
Elżbieta Kamionka
